About

The Swinna Poreba reservoir project is in southern Poland on the Skawa River within the upper Vistula drainage basin, 7 km south of the city of Wadowice. The project is intended to generate hydroelectric power, regulate the downstream river flow, reduce the risk of flooding, store drinking water and create opportunities for recreation and tourism.^[2] Construction began in 1987 but was interrupted in the 1990s due to project finance issues.^[3] In 2002, the Regional Board for Water Management awarded Skanska S.A. Hydro-engineering the $174 million contract to complete the 54 meter high, 620 meter long clay core dam, two 300 meter outlet tunnels, 440 meter spillway concrete channel, retaining walls, discharge channel and cement injection gallery.^[4]

The Swinna Poreba Village

The Swinna Poreba project is socially and environmentally complex due to the creation of a reservoir and relocation of part of the Swinna Poreba village. The project relocated 377 households, three schools, two recreation centres, two administration buildings, a nursery and eight light industrial units. The majority of the community are being relocated within the Swinna Poreba village and to a nearby town to maintain community relationships.^[5] From an environmental perspective, the Swinna Poreba area does not contain any endangered species and is not an environmentally protected area.^[6]

Reduced Risk of Flooding

The dam will allow better control of the Skawa River and is expected to reduce the severity of flooding along the Vistula River and in the city of Kraków. Serious flooding currently occurs in Kraków. In July 2001, 10 people were killed and over 10,000 made homeless by severe flooding along the Vistula River, west of Kraków.^[7]

Economic Aspects

Between 2003 and 2007, approximately 400 people have been employed on the project. Roughly 90% of project workers were employed from the surrounding communities and it has been estimated that the project has reduced district unemployment by almost 70%. Between 30 and 35 permanent positions were created at the power plant. The Regional Board for Water Management has estimated that approximately 300 local jobs will be created as a direct result of tourism related activities.^[8]

Environmental Aspects

Skanska is responsible for the clean up of the valley, which includes disassembling abandoned buildings and backfilling the remaining ruins with soil, backfilling existing pits, and removing approximately 35,000 meters cubed of asphalt and other potentially toxic materials. By 2007 11,500 trees had been cleared from the 135-hectare area below the maximum reservoir water height. Approximately 700 young trees were relocated to the Las Wolski Park in Kraków.^[9] Once operational the 3.8MW hydroelectric power plant is estimated to generate approximately 14.5 GWh of energy per year. At present the energy for the region is generated in two conventional coal power plants. The hydroelectric power plant is expected to generate energy equivalent to approximately 22,254 tons of carbon dioxide emissions per year.

Criticism

In 2007, the Society for Earth and the Polish Green Network investigated the environmental and social impact of seven dams in Poland. The report states:

• Construction of dams and water reservoirs significantly reduces the diversity of species and habitats in flooded areas as many types of habitats of rare and endangered species of plants and animals are forever lost.
• All of the dams assessed create a barrier to river corridors. As a consequence they limit or totally prevent the migration of aquatic organisms (both plants and animals) and separate populations of certain species, thus increase their chances of extinction.
• Construction of dams involves the need for high social costs associated with people displacement.
• Construction and maintenance of small dams produce costs that are to be covered by taxpayers, particularly those displaced, and the greatest benefits gain energy companies and potentially shipping companies.
• All analyzed reservoirs are examples of highly arbitrary assessment and overestimation of the benefits and ignoring the environmental costs.^[10]